Compare the2023 Kia Sportage HybridVS 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige has standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Trailblazer only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Sportage Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage Hybrid and the Trailblazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The Sportage Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Trailblazer’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Trailblazer. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Trailblazer ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Sportage Hybrid’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Trailblazer’s camshafts. If the Trailblazer’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Sportage Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 90 more horsepower (227 vs. 137) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 162) than the Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Sportage Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 72 more horsepower (227 vs. 155) and 84 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 174) than the Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage Hybrid gets better mileage than the Trailblazer:

			MPG
Sportage Hybrid
	FWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/44 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/38 hwy
Trailblazer
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/33 hwy
		1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Sportage Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Sportage Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Trailblazer:

	Sportage Hybrid	Trailblazer
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	10.39 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sportage Hybrid has larger tires than the Trailblazer (235/65R17 vs. 225/60R17).

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trailblazer has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Sportage Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sportage Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Trailblazer’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Sportage Hybrid has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage Hybrid’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Trailblazer (108.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage Hybrid is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Trailblazer.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Trailblazer (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sportage Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Sportage Hybrid has .5 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom, 7.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trailblazer.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Trailblazer’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trailblazer with its rear seat up (39.5 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trailblazer with its rear seat folded (73.7 vs. 54.4 cubic feet).

Towing

The Sportage Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Trailblazer’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Trailblazer’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

On a hot day the Sportage Hybrid’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Trailblazer can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Trailblazer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Sportage Hybrid has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Trailblazer LS doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Sportage Hybrid’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Sportage Hybrid and the Trailblazer offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Trailblazer’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Kia Sportage outsold the Chevrolet Trailblazer by 10% during the 2021 model year.